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“No, you do not.”
“I do too. What do I have to say to convince you?” He taps his chin and then says, “How about, scientists have found evidence that in the center of the Milky Way there is a large black hole, or, oh, here’s a cool one. Did you know a star can weigh so much that it can bend the nature of time and space? That’s like someDoctor Strangeshit right there….”
I blink at him, my mind not even comprehending thatthisjust came out ofthat.
Books and covers. I need to keep reminding myself not to judge.
“Come on, Doc. I want to watch this with you. I’m like Spock, you’ll see.”
“You’re the furthest man from Spock I’ve ever met.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m a rollercoaster of emotion.” He looks at me with a wry smile.
“I’m… You’re…” I’ve lost the ability to speak. “The fact is, you won’t stay awake through the show. I’m willing to bet you’ll be asleep in a matter of minutes.”
“Pfft. I have amazing stamina. Never had a single complaint.”
“How did you take what I just said and make it about sex? We were talking about you making it through a movie.”
“Everything leads back to sex.”
I stare at him and shift on my feet.
“It absolutely does not. A lot of things don’t lead back to sex. Like…blood panels and prostate exams. Neither of those is sexual.”
Luke eyes me like I’m insane. “Nah, I heard prostate massages are hot. My cousin says so.”
“Okay, to clarify, I saidexam, not massage.”
“Both could finish with a happy ending.”
“Oh my god, okay, enough of this. Let’s just watch the show.”
I reluctantly lower myself onto the couch, and Luke wastes no time. He scoots toward me until our thighs are touching. I can feel the warmth of his leg seeping through my pajama pants and I can’t help but notice he smells like sunshine and grass, with just a hint of gasoline. I don’t totally hate it. I should tell him to move away, but I don’t. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been close to another person like this. My sisters barrel their way into my life every week, but I don’t really have friends.
Not since Andrew. All of our friends sided with him when things ended. That’s when I realized that perhaps I’m not likeable enough to keep around. Perhaps there’s something deep within me that’s just not wired right, that repels people away from me.
I push the thought aside and focus on the screen as Luke’s large arm bumps into mine. He presses play on the controller and then leans even more toward me.
“Do you always sit this close to people?” I ask.
“Nah, only you, Doc. You’re special.”
CHAPTERTHREE
ELLIOT
Luke slept through the documentary like I knew he would, and I had to shake him awake when it was finished. But not before I ran my hand through his hair while he snored softly against me. I have no explanation for doing this, other than I am a masochist, and my hands seem to be attracted to him. He’s probably only about ten years younger than me, so still a full-grown man, but he looks so youthful and sweet when he sleeps
Last night when he’d shown up at my house unexpectedly, he didn’t even make it through the second movie before conking out. He’d just leaned over, pressed his face against my thighs, and closed his eyes. He didn’t even ask permission.I should have felt livid; I don’t normally like strangers touching me. But livid was far from what I felt.
I’d just gazed down at his face and stroked my fingers through his dark blond hair, my mind spinning in ridiculous, unseemly directions. I thought about how soft his hair felt, how he was quite possibly the most handsome man I’d ever met, how goddamn weird he was, and yet, despite all his quirks, how a little less lonely I’d felt with him in my space.
I probably shouldn’t have called the cops on him. It was a dick move, but I’d wanted to see what he would do.
And he certainly didn’t disappoint. He hid in a fucking bush right outside my window, so yes, as I assumed, he’s slightly insane.
“Luke, wake up,” I say and tug firmly on his blond strands until he groans awake.
